There was a sense of justice being served but a far more powerful sense of heartbreak on Tuesday as Colby Nicholas Heid, 20, was sentenced to three years in prison over the death of city mechanic Tanner Kaufmann, 37.

Heid had been charged with impaired driving causing death after the Sept 4, 2016 crash that killed Kaufmann on the Pasqua Street extension grid road, south of Zehner Road.

“I cared for him when he was a child with every part of my being,” Kaufmann’s mother Gwen told Regina Provincial Court. “Now he’s gone and I’m left with a shattered, broken heart.”

Kaufmann, who leaves behind his wife Alyscia and two boys Parks, 8 and Kolt, 6, had taken his dog Macy to the area for training, and was killed after being struck by Heid’s vehicle as he removed Macy from his truck. The dog also died.

After a joint sentencing submission from the Crown and Heid’s defence, Heid pleaded guilty to driving while over .08 and causing an accident resulting in the death of Kaufmann. The charge of impaired driving causing death was withdrawn. The submission — which included a five-year driving prohibition to begin upon Heid’s release — was accepted by Judge Murray Hinds, who said he felt Heid had shown genuine remorse.

In 13 at turns moving and harrowing victim impact statements, Kaufmann’s friends and family, who were decked out in red and black checked shirts in honour of the dead man, outlined their love for the talented mechanic who like to snowboard, mountain-bike and coach school hockey in his free time.

Tanner Kaufmann is seen here with his wife Alyscia and their children Kolt (left, aged 6) and Parks (aged 8).Kaufmann family. /
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Kaufmann’s wife Alyscia, who has not been able to work since his death, said her sons now pray to their father every night, asking him “to take away their nightmares.”

She described heartbreaking details such as looking at her dead husband’s bloodied wedding ring, but said she and her boys have chosen “to live in light and not in darkness and sorrow.”

“I hope you use the time in jail to think about the man you want to be, and how you can make that happen,” she said as she faced Heid, who bowed his head and wept.

Kaufmann died, the court heard in facts outlined by the Crown and not contested by the defence, after Heid got behind the wheel on Sept. 4 after consuming “at least 25 drinks” of “cheap rum.” He had been watching a Saskatchewan Roughriders game at his home north of Regina with his brother and friends, the court heard.

Heid had no explanation as to why he had left his house in such a state and headed towards Regina, but at around 6:08 p.m. his truck hit Kaufmann’s, which was pulled off the side of the road facing south.

Heid, also going south, hit Kaufmann from the rear as he veered to the right. He was going 82 kilometres per hour just 2.5 seconds before impact, according to pre-collision information from his Chevrolet truck.

The brakes were never applied and Heid took his foot off the accelerator just one second before impact, the court heard, with the information indicating a speed of at least 75 kilometres per hour at impact.

When White Butte RCMP and Regina EMS attended the scene, Heid was in the passenger seat of his truck, “significantly intoxicated.” Blood samples taken from him almost three hours later showed a reading of .293, over three times the legal limit.

Alyscia Kaufmann, center, walks toward the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan. Colby Nicholas Heid (not pictured), who will be in court today, is charged with impaired driving causing the death of Alyscia’s husband Tanner Kaufman.Michael Bell

One witness to the scene described Heid resembling someone who had been passed out from alcohol, slowly waking up.

“His eyes didn’t open at all, he didn’t communicate with us at all. He was just sort of shaking his head … ” the witness said in a statement.

When taken to Regina General Hospital for observation, Heid urinated in the ambulance. The court heard that while walking into the hospital at 7 p.m., a paramedic told an RCMP officer Heid had been “hitting on them,” which was deemed an extreme sign of intoxication.

Heid was handcuffed to the bed at the hospital because of his behaviour, where he was almost incoherently intoxicated. He was arrested soon afterwards.

The following day, Heid gave a statement. He remembered being in his garage drinking, but had no explanation as to why he got into his truck, he said. The next thing he remembered was waking up at the hospital.

Heid, who had been granted bail on Sept. 8., was led away from court to begin his sentence immediately.

“I intend to teach my generation about the world of heartbreak that comes when you get behind the wheel impaired,” he told the court before being ushered out.

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